carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Sept 13, 2009 13:51:23 GMT -5
Week 5 of my Labradorite tumble and it has fared worse than the picture of Dorian Gray. I could have started with todays pictures and convinced folks that this was where I started instead of ended up. This shows the ratio of tile spacers to Lab rocks:  This shows the wretched results of the final polish:  The best of the bunch:  Lessons learned: I won't tumble this stuff again. It almost seems fibrous in the manner it fractures. There may be a particular source of Labradorite that is tougher and will stand up to tumbling but I ain't seen it. All well polished Lab I've seen was polished on some kind of wheel. Welp, we live to learn. It's a beautiful day outside and we actually got rain out here after 10 months so I'm going fishing. Have a good one. |
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Post by Toad on Sept 13, 2009 13:57:28 GMT -5
I didn't have any luck with it either. I think I'll spend a few years on the hard stuff before trying anything challenging again.
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Sept 14, 2009 6:36:04 GMT -5
Well, if a bad day at rock tumbling drives you to fishing it's not that bad of a day, Hope you caught some fish  . Drill a hole in some for Eco-Sinkers ;D. Dr Joe . |
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Sept 14, 2009 12:39:57 GMT -5
I haven't had much luck with tumbling Laboradite. I finish cabs in a vibe tumbler and Laboradite cabs self destruct in a vibe...
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 14, 2009 17:25:57 GMT -5
Man, I feel for ya. Some materials are just not meant for the tumbler and feldspar, being just chock full of cleavage planes and often fractures, appears to be one of those. I've gotten so I pretty much stick with the quartz gem group for the tumblers now because I don't need the exasperation.....Mel
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Sept 14, 2009 17:45:47 GMT -5
Better to have tried and lost....
I'll lick my wounds and sooth my pride with the classic tumbling materials. Has anyone tried Caliche?
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Post by frane on Sept 14, 2009 17:48:33 GMT -5
I had the same luck. I have them sitting aside now until I get enough of the same hardness stones and then I am going to try a dry load in the vibe with corncob for pre polish and corncob with polish and see if these turn out any better.
Fran
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 14, 2009 17:54:57 GMT -5
Carlos; There are silcified caliche forms from Georgia ( Georgia Queen Picture Jasper) and New Mexico but I think our Texas form is a bit soft for the tumbler. We sure do have some nice looking flints though and they flat polish like a mirror with ease.....Mel
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Sept 14, 2009 19:09:51 GMT -5
I was just kidding about the caliche. I did get lucky on a 16.6# chunk of Succor creek jasper which I will now have to figure out how to cut down to size while making the most of the blues and greens.
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